Rail fastening tool



M. L. CANTRELL El AL Feb. 23, 1943.

RAIL FASTENING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1940 l I II l 1 Feb. 23, 1943. M. L. CANTRELL ETAL 2,312,026

RA IL FASTENING TOOL Filed Oct. 5, 1940 .3 She ets-Sheet s INVENTORS M a; J.

* 20 i9 wvw yumyu ATTORNEYS Patented F eb. 23, 1943 RAIL FASTENING TOOL Marvin L. Cantrell and Frank J. Shray, Pueblo, 0010., assignors to The Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application October 3, 1940, Serial No. 359,618

4 Claims.

This invention relates to rail fastenings and more particularly to a novel rail fastening for retaining a rail in its operative position on a tie plate with a spring action through the medium of a spring lock received in an opening in the plate and bearing on the plate outwardly of the opening. The new fastening is of a simple construction adapted for manufacture at low cost, and the spring lock of the fastening may be easily installed by a novel apparatus which also forms part of the invention.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel rail fastening including a spring lock engaging the rail and held securely in position at all times by its own spring action, without the use of separate retaining means, A rail fastening made in accordance with our invention comprises a tie-plate having a rail seat and an opening on at least one side of the seat. Mounted in the opening adjacent the base of the rail on the seat is a spring lock which is generally U-shaped and is preferably made of a single strip of spring metal. The lock is normally disposed with one arm above the other, and the lower arm extends into the opening and is provided with a hook-like portion engaging an overhanging part of the tie-plate. From the plate opening, the lock extends outwardly from the rail and then downwardly into engagement with the top of the tie-plate, from which it curves upwardly and inwardly into engagement with the top of the rail base. Normally, the two arms of the lock are relatively close together, but in installing the lock the arms are forced apart a substantial distance to insert the hook-like portion under the overhanging part of the plate, and the parts are so proportioned that when the arms are released the upper arm remains distorted and exerts a downward thrust on the top of the rail base.

With this construction, the spring lock resists upward movement of the rail from its seat incident to passing wheel loads'and resists this movement with a yielding force which increases as the upward movement proceeds. Accordingly, the lock effectively opposes longitudinal creeping of the rail and tends to dampen the vibrations caused by the passing loads. Due to the normal thrust of the lock on the rail base, a reactive force is produced which tends to fulcrum the lock outwardly from the rail about the hook-like portion as a pivot, with the result that the port of the lock bearing on the top of the tie-plate outwardly of the opening is thrust downwardly with a considerable force against the plate, thereby stabilizing the lock and preventing displacement thereof in the opening. By reason of the hook-like portion at the end of the lower arm of the lock, the latter is positively held against withdrawal from the opening,

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel apparatus for installing the spring lock of our fastening. The apparatus comprises an operating member having a mandrel adapted to fit closely between the arms of the look so as to hold the lock securely on the member. Mounted for rotation on the operating member is a cam which preferably is elliptical in cross-section and is normally disposed with its major axis generally parallel to the arms of the look when the latter is held on the mandrel, so that the cam fits easily between the arms. The cam may be rotated relative to the mandrel by a second operating member secured to the cam in any suitable manner. In the use of the apparatus, the lock is placed on the mandrel so that its arm straddle the cam, and then the cam is rotated toward a position in which its major axis is transverse with respect to the arms, with the result that the arms are forced apart a substantial distance. The lock may now be installed by moving the end of its lower arm into the plate opening until the hook-like portion is under the overhanging part of the plate, whereupon the cam is turned back toward its initial position to release the arms, and the mandrel is withdrawn from the lock.

These and other features of the invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional View of one form of the new rail fastening;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fastening shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of part of a rail fastening showing a modified form of the rail lock;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form of the new rail fastening;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of part of a rail fastening showing still another form of the rail lock;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line l? in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side view of one form of the new apparatus for installing the rail lock;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8;

The tie-plate, as shown, includes a pair of.

pointed ribs 22 extending along its bottom surface transversely of the plate and imbedded in" the tie to hold the plate to the proper gauge.

On the top of the tie-plate is a canted rail seat 23 and a pair of shoulders 24 extending transversely of the plate along the sides of the seat so as to hold the rail 25 in position. The tie-plate may tend to break up the rhythm of the latter and reduce the amplitude. vibrations is also effected by the opposition of the spring locks to the upward or rebound movement of the vibrating rail. By thus dampening the vibrations, the spring locks tend to reduce harmful molecular oscillation in the rail and thereby prolong the life of the assembly.

The distortion of the upper arm of the rail lock results in a reactive force tending to move the lock clockwise about the lower end portion 34 as a pivot, as seen in Fig. 1, thereby pressing the bearing portion 35 against the top of the plate. This pressure between the bearing 35 and. the top of the plate has a tendency to stabilize the lock and prevent loosening or displacement thereof in the be secured to the tie in any suitable manner, as,

for example, by spikes 26 driven through openings in the plate into the tie. If desired, additional spikes 27 may be driven through openings in the plate adjacent the rail seat so that the heads of the spikes engage the rail base.

On each side of the rail base, the tie-plate is formed with an opening 29 which may be provided with an under-cut portion in the side adj acent the rail so as to form an overhanging surface 30 sloping downwardly and outwardly away from the rail. Preferably, each undercut opening 29 is formed in a single punching operation,

as described in a copending application of M. L. Cantrell and O. A. Hed, Serial No. 295,294, filed September 16, 1937, whereby some or all of the material displaced in the formation of the undercut portion is used to form a buttress 3| above the overhanging surface 34. Mounted in each of the plate openings 29 is a generally U-shaped spring lock 32 which may be made of spring metal, or the like, one of its arms is bent outwardly, as shown at 33, and engaging the top of the rail base near the adjacent edge of the base. The other arm of the lock is provided at its end with a plate engaging portion 34 which is formed complementary to the overhanging surface 30 and engages this surface when the lock is in position. From'the part 34, the lower arm of the lock curves upwardly and outwardly and then downwardly to a bearing portion 35 seated on the top of the tie-plate outwardly from the opening 29.

In the normal condition of the lock 32, before it is installed in the plate, its two arms are relatively close together, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. However, in installing the lock in the plate, the arms are forced apart a substantial distance so that the curved end portion 34 of the lower arm may be inserted in the opening under the overhanging surface 30. Accordingly, when the arms'of the lock are released they tend to move together but are prevented from doing so by the wedging action of the rail base and the inclined surface 39. Thus, the upper arm of the lock normally exerts aspring action of considerable force on the top of the rail base and yieldingly resists upward movement of the rail from its seat incident to the passage of wheel loads over the rail, whereby longitudinal creeping of the rail is reduced or prevented. In addition, the lock acts to dampen the rail vibrations of relatively high frequency common to track structures, because each lock is adapted to be vibrated itself by the source of vibrations but with a lower amplitude as compared with the rail, thereby producing vibratory overtones which, being out of step with the frequency and amplitude of the rail vibrations,

opening. Also, by reason of the spring action of the lock, the lower end portion 34 is urged upwardly against the overhanging surface 30, whereby the lock is retained in its operative position by the surface 30, which in effect forms a taper lock, and also by the frictional resistance between the end portion 34 and the surface 30 and between the bearing portion 35 and the top of the plate.

The pressure normally exerted by the upper arm of the lock against the rail base is determined in part by the position of the bearing 35 relative to the overhanging surface 3.0. In order to provide a uniform pressure of the rail locks,

the top of the tie-plate outwardly of the opening 29 may be raised to form an elevated seat 36, preferably by indenting the plate bottom, as shown at 31, in the same punching operation which forms the undercut opening. It will be noted that the rail lock is thickest at its intermediate portion where it is subjected to the greatest strain and gradually decreases in thickness to the ends thereof.

The rail assembly shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the rail lock is of somewhat different form. As there shown, the lock 40 has a contour similar to that of the lock 32, but the main body of the lock 40 is considerably wider than the lock 32. The lower end portion 4| of the lock, however, is relatively narrow so that it may be fitted into the plate opening 29 to engage the overhanging surface of the undercut portion. Because of its greater width, the lock 40 may be made of relatively thin stock and of uniform thickness throughout.

It will be observed that in the rail assemblies shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rail locks lie entirely above the bottom surface of the tie plate,

so that it is unnecessary to form any recesses in the tie to receive these locks. Also, the locks are held in position entirely by their own spring action, without the use of separate retaining means, such as a track spike or key. Accordingly, there is no danger of the locks becoming loosened in the plate opening, and they will exert a uniform pressure on the rail base at all times when the rail is on its seat.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a modified form of the rail assembly wherein the resilient rail locks are substituted for the usual spikes which are driven through the plate and into the tie adjacent the rail base to hold the rail down on its seat. The assembly there shown comprises the usual tie plate 42 mounted on a tie 43 and having a rail seat on its upper surface for supporting the rail 44. The tie plate may be anchored to the tie by means of spikes 45, and, if desired, auxiliary spikes 45 may be driven into the tie adjacent the rail base. Mounted in the The dampening of these usual spike openings 47 on opposite sides of the rail are resilient rail locks 48 which are similar to the locks 32 and 40 in that they are generally shown at "49, to provide a suitable bearing surface. The end of the lower arm extends through the opening 41 and is formed with a hook 50 engaging the bottom of the tie plate inwardly of the opening, the tie being formed with a recess under the opening to receive the hook 59. From the recess 51, the lower arm of the lock extends upwardly and outwardly so that it engages the outer edge of the opening near the top of the plate, as shown at 52, and from the top of the opening th arm curves outwardly and then downwardly to a bearing portion 53 seated on the top of the plate a substantial distance outwardly from the opening 41.

In installing the lock 48, the two arms are spread apart from their normal positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and then the lower arm is inserted through the opening 4'! until the hook 59 moves under the bottom of the plate. Since the upper arm of the look when it is released remains distorted by the rail base, it exerts a spring action on the top of the rail base, this spring action resulting in a reactive force which holds the bearing portion 53 down against the top of the tie plate and also urges the bearing portion 52 against the outer edge of the plate opening. Therefore, the hook 50 cannot be withdrawn from beneath the tie plate without spreading the arms of the lock apart a substantial distance. Since the lock is adapted to be inserted in the usual spike opening adjacent the rail base, it may be used as a replacement part to take the place of the usual spike in this opening.

The rail assembly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, except that it includes a rail lock 55 of somewhat different form. The lock 55 is generally U-shaped, and the end of the upper arm is formed with an outwardly turned portion 55 engaging the top of the rail base. As shown in Fig. 6, the main body of the lock 55 is considerably wider than the opening 41 in the plate, but the lower arm is formed with a shoulder 51 and below the shoulder the lock is relatively narrow so that it fits into the plate opening. The reduced end of the lower arm is turned outwardly to form a hook 53 engaging the bottom surface of the tie plate outwardly of the plate opening, the tie having a recess 59 for receiving the hook. From the hook 58, the lower arm extends vertically upwardly through the opening in engagement with the outer side of the plate opening, as shown at 60, and beyond the shoulder 51 the lock curves outwardly and downwardly to a bearing portion 61 seated on the top of the plate outwardly of the plate opening.

The lock 55 is installed by spreading the arms apart and inserting the end of the lower arm into the opening 41 until the hook 58 moves under the tie-plate. The reactive force resulting from the spring action of the upper arm on the top of the rail base urges the bearing portion BI against the top of the plate and holds the vertical portion 553 of the reduced end of the lock against the outer side of the plate opening. Accordingly, the hook 58 is held in position at all times and prevents accidental withdrawal of the lock.

- cam 1!! is turned toward its initial The rail lock in each of the forms illustrated is of simple construction and may be manufactured at low cost. Also, it is durable and may be easily installed. After the look has been placed in position, it is held there positively by the hook portion underlying the tie plate or by the curved end engaging the taper lock 3!! of the undercut opening, and any tendency to remove the look by disengaging the hook or the curved end is opposed by the spring action of the lock.

We have found that the spring lock of our invention may be readily installed with the use of our new apparatus, one form of which is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. As there shown, the apparatus comprises a main shaft 83 provided at one end with a handle (not shown) and at the opposite end with a head 64. Projecting outwardly from one side of the head is a mandrel 65 which is generally circular in form so that it may fit closely in the space between the arms of the U-shaped lock 32 and thereby hold the lock on the shaft head. The outer portion of the mandrel 65 is cut away to form an arcuate portion 65 for a purpose to be described presently.

Extending through the head 64 outwardly of the mandrel 65 is a pin 68 which is rotatable in the head by a second shaft 69. Adjacent the mandrel 65 is a cam 10 connected to the pin 68 and rotatable thereby. The cam 10, as shown, is generally elliptical in form with its longer axis extending generally parallel to the arms of the lock on the mandrel when the shafts 63 and 69 are at right angles to each other. In this position of the cam, it extends into the cutaway portion 66.

In the operation of the apparatus, the rail lock 32 is placed on the mandrel 65 with the arms of the lock extending on opposite sides of the cam 18, as shown in Fig. 9. The shaft 69 is then drawn downwardly to a position adjacent the shaft 63, and during this movement of the shaft the cam 70 is rotated so that its longer axis extends transversely with respect to the arms of the lock, whereby the arms are spread apart a substantial distance, as shown in Fig. 10. The lock may now be placed in position by inserting the end of its lower arm into the plate opening until the curved end portion books under the overhanging part of the tie-plate. The arms are then released by moving the shaft 69 so that the position. By making the shafts 53 and 69 relatively long, it is possible for the operator to install the look without stooping.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for installing generally U- shaped sprin locks which comprises an operating member having means for extending into the lock between the arms to hold the lock on said member, a generally elliptical cam mounted for rotation on said member between the arms of the look, and a second operating member connected to the cam for moving it toward a position in which its major axis is generally transverse to the arms, whereby the arms are spread apart.

2. An apparatus for installing generally U- shaped spring locks which comprises an operating member having means for extending into the lock between the arms thereof to hold the lock on said member, a cam mounted for rotation on said member between the arms of the lock and operable on rotation to engage and spread the arms, and means for rotating the ating member having a mandrel adapted to fit closely within the curved portion of the lock between the arms thereof to hold the lock on the member, a cam mounted for rotation on said member between the arms of the lock and operable on rotation to engage and spread the arms, and means for rotating the cam on said memher.

4. ,An apparatus for installing generally U- shaped spring locks which comprises-anoperating member having means for extending into the lock between the arms to hold the lock on said member, a generally elliptical cam mounted for rotation on said member between the arms of the lock, the cam being rotatable to move its major axis toward a position generally transverse to the arms and thereby spread the arms, and means for rotating the cam on said mem- 10 her. 

